Static and dynamic analysis of the DCB problem in fracture mechanics

A finite difference scheme for treating the static and dynamic stress fields under plane-strain conditions in the DCB, is proposed. The adequacy of the scheme is established via the static solution by comparing the results obtained numerically with those obtained experimentally. Both the numerical and experimental results are also compared with data available in the literature. Discrepancies found are explained and discussed. For the numerical scheme adjusted to handle the propagating crack problem, the results represent a situation which is close to that observed experimentally; namely, an essentially constant steady state crack propagation speed from the start, with crack length at arrest and velocity values depending on the initial conditions. In addition, the velocities predicted by the analysis are shown to be in good agreement with those reported in the literature.